Buckeyes hoping to name starting quarterback by end of spring

On3 imageby:Andy Backstrom02/01/23

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COLUMBUS — Ohio State has an open quarterback competition this offseason between Kyle McCord and Devin Brown after two-time Heisman Trophy finalist C.J. Stroud left for this year’s NFL Draft. Except, it sounds like that two-way race will be decided long before the start of the 2023 season.

In other words, the Buckeyes, in all likelihood, won’t be flip-flopping between quarterbacks this fall like then-head coach Urban Meyer did with J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones back in 2015.

Instead, now fifth-year leading man Ryan Day hopes to have his QB1 by the end of spring ball.

“I hope that one of them emerges, and we can name him a starter,” Day said Wednesday. “I really do.”

Day continued: “I think the way that our dynamic is, I think it’d be great for our program to be able to do that. There were times in the past where I just didn’t see that happening. I’m hoping that can happen. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. But some vision on who the starter is coming out of the spring would be nice. So I’m hoping one of them emerges here in these 15 practices.”

Ohio State spring practice doesn’t start until March 7, but the Buckeyes’ quarterback battle already started during Peach Bowl prep. Day explained that when Stroud went to New York City for the Heisman Trophy ceremony in December, McCord and Brown were temporarily given the keys to the offense.

Day said that it afforded him and his staff the chance to see the quarterbacks “compete.” The former New Hampshire quarterback and longtime quarterbacks coach noted that it’s one thing for a player to “be in a 7-on-7, three and a hitch and throw it” — that is necessary, Day conceded. What’s more important, however, is how a quarterback creates, sometimes making something out of nothing.

That’s especially key for Ohio State, which is dealing with significant turnover on its offensive line. The Buckeyes have lost three starters, including a pair of first-team All-American tackles, to this year’s NFL Draft.

“I think when you identify the most successful quarterbacks in the NFL right now, and then in college football, I think all of them can extend and help the offensive line by creating plays. I mean, just watch these games on Sunday, as we get into the playoffs and then the Super Bowl. These guys can all move. They can create. And I think when you have a young offensive line, that’s a great way to be able to help them.”

Day added: “When you watch C.J. playing in the Georgia game, he made some plays with his feet. He extended. He competed his tail off, and that’s winning football. And so we have to create those environments for [Kyle and Devin] this spring and in the preseason.”

McCord, now in his third year, was Stroud’s backup last season. Brown, now in his second year, was the third stringer.

McCord completed 16-of-20 passes for 190 yards and a score in relief of Stroud this past season. As a true freshman in 2021, the Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, native appeared in five games and made his first career start against Akron when Stroud was sidelined. McCord went 13-of-18 for 319 yards, two touchdowns and a pick in a 59-7 victory.

The 6-foot-3, 222-pound signal caller starred at St. Joe’s Prep in Philadelphia, where he won three straight state titles, emerged as a five-star recruit and formed quite the rapport with wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

Meanwhile, Brown is also a former five-star recruit, and he was actually the higher-rated prospect of the pair, according to On3, which had Brown as the top player in the 2022 class.

Brown was a mid-year enrollee last year after wrapping his high school career with a prolific senior season at Corner Canyon in Utah, where he threw for 4,881 yards with 57 touchdowns. But Brown isn’t just a thrower. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound dual-threat quarterback rushed for 430 yards and eight additional touchdowns in 2021.

Brown has flashed that athleticism at Ohio State.

“Both of them do things a little bit different, you know, their skill sets,” Day said. “But the guy who’s the leader — there’s a lot of different ways to do it — and is competitively tough is going to ultimately win the job.”

Day said that both McCord and Brown are going to “get a ton of reps.” He also said that Oregon State seventh-year transfer Tristan Gebbia will get reps, as will true freshman Lincoln Kienholz when he arrives in the summer.

The competition, though, is between McCord and Brown. Whoever wins the starting job is the player the team and coaching staff believes in — a player that can lead the Buckeyes to a championship, Day said.

“I’m excited to see these two guys compete,” Day said. “What an unbelievable opportunity for both of them. When you look at the cast that’s surrounding them, I mean, you couldn’t be more excited to be quarterback right now in college football.

“It’s going to be a heck of a competition.”

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